Calf weaner



Mitch 5, 1957 R, HAGGARD 2,783,740

CALF WEANER Filed Jan. 12, 1956 Raymond .Haggard f/VWL 'Z5 INVENTOH .LV 9 o 27 E26 BY M.

l I ATTORNEYS.

CALF WEANER Raymond L. Haggard, Springeld, Mo. Application `lanuary 12, 1956, Serial No. 558,636

1 Claim. (Cl. 119-130) This invention relates to calf weaners.

An object of this invention is to provide ian electrically operated means for mounting on the head of the calf to discourage the calf in feeding from the mother cow.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically operated calf weaner which can be readily mounted on the head of a calf and will not i-njure the calf.

A further object of this invention is to provide a calf weaner which is of simple construction so that it will not readily get out of Order.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made irl the construction and arrangement orn parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a detail side elevation of a calf weaner constructed according to an embodiment of this invention showing the device mounted on the head of a calf with the 'device in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the device in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation partly broken away on an enlarged scale showing the weaner removed from the animal. I y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the means for producing an electrical impulse when the head of the calf is tilted upwardly.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View showing the electric circuit embodied in this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character C designates the head of a calf. In order to provide a means whereby the calf will be discouraged from feeding from the mother cow, I have provided an electrical impulse means which includes a housing having end walls 11 and 12. The housing 1t) has secured to the upper side thereof an elongated suspension strap 13 and a pair of housing supporting straps 14 and 15 which are threaded through the spaces dened by the strap 13. These straps 14 and 15 are preferably formed of leather and are stretched together in upwardly converging relation by stitching 16. Strap 14 which is formed with a buckle 17 is adapted to engage over the back of the head of a calf C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The strap is substantially shorter than strap 14 and is adapted to engage over the nose portion of the calf, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A battery 18 is mounted in the housing 10 and one side of the battery 18 is connected by means of a conductor 19 to one side of a manually operated switch 20. The switch 20 is secured to the inner side of end wall 11 and a switch operating lever 21 extends through wall 11. The other side of battery 18 is con- 2,783,740 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 ice nected by means of a conductor 22 to Ione end of a stepup transformer generally indicated at 23. The transformer 23 includes a primary coil 24 which is connected with conductor 22. The other end of primary 24 is connected by means of a conductor 25 to a mercury switch 26. A conductor 27 is connected between mercury switch 26 `and the other side of switch 20.

Switch Z6 is supported between the straps 14 and 15 on .a connecting strap 2S secured by fastening means 29 and 30 to the straps 14 and 15 respectively. The transformer 23 includes a secondary coil 31 and one end of coil 31 has a conductor 32 connected therewith extending upwardly to a contact member 3.3 carried by the forward strap 15 adjacent theupper portion of the latter. A second wire o-r conductor 34 is connected to the opposite end of secondary coil 31 and is extended upwardly and connected to a contact 35 carried by the strap 15 on the side of the head of the animal opposite from contact 33.

In the use and operation of this weaner the device is mounted on the head of the calf, as shown in Figs. l and 2. When it is ydesired to eirect operation of t'he device switch 2G is moved to va circuit closing position thereby to energize ystep-up transformer 23, when the head of the calf is tilted forwardly. When the head is inclined downwardly or in substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 with mercury switch 26 horizontal the circuit to the transformer 23 will be broken. When the anim-al raises its head upwardly as shown in Fig. 2, mercury switch 26 will be closed, thereby energizing transformer 23. The Ianimal will then receive an electrical impulse of sufficient intensity to cause the animal to move its head and when the head is again downwardly inclined or in a position with the mercury switch 26 horizontal, the electric circuit to the transformer will be broken. This device will operate inwardly when the calf rocks its head up and down and will have a tendency to cause the calf to lower its head and to stay away from the cow when it desires to feed.

What is claimed is:

An electric calf weatner comprising a housing, a str-ap fixed to said housing adjacent the ends of the latter, the intermediate portion of said strap being odset from said housing, a halter formed of a pair of upwardly divergent straps engageable about the head of the calf, the convergent lower portions of said pair of straps being th-readed between said first named strap and said housing, a horizontal strap secured between said pair of straps upwardly from the lower portions thereof, a stepup transformer formed of a primary and a secondary disposed in said housing, a current source in said housing, an electrical circuit connected to said source and said primary, a manual switch in said circuit, a mercury switch in said circuit, means securing said mercury switch to said horizontal strap whereby said mercury switch will be in normal circuit breaking position when the head of the calf is downwardly inclined, upward inclination of the head disposing said switch in circuit closing position, a pair of contacts xed to Ysaid halter in a position to contact with the head of the calf, and a pair of conductors connected between said contacts and the ends of said secondary.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,510,337 Franklin June 6, 1950 2,602,421 Barker July 8, 1952 2,628,592 Johnston Feb. 17, 1953 

